Dustpan with Roller

ABSTRACT

A dustpan is disclosed. The dustpan include a debris receptacle coupled to the grip, having a debris collection surface and a bottom surface, and a roller mechanism, wherein the roller mechanism includes a roller with an adhesive surface, a biasing member, and a handle to apply a force coupled to the grip, wherein application of force to the handle moves the roller from i) a non-contact position, above the bottom surface of the debris receptacle, to ii) a contact position, configured to be one of below the bottom surface of the debris receptacle or ground level, and wherein once the force is released the biasing member returns the roller to the non-contact position.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to cleaning apparatuses, and particularly related to a dust and debris collection apparatus.

BACKGROUND

Dustpans are a useful tool that allow debris to be conveniently removed from a surface, usually by means of a broom. However, all prior dustpans have the issue of leaving a line of debris at the leading edge of the dustpan. This results in excessive effort required by the user to transfer the debris to the surface of the dustpan.

There is, therefore an unmet need for a novel arrangement that reduces the required effort from the user to transfer debris from a surface to the receptacle.

SUMMARY

A dustpan is disclosed. The dustpan include a debris receptacle coupled to the grip, having a debris collection surface and a bottom surface, and a roller mechanism, wherein the roller mechanism includes a roller with an adhesive surface, a biasing member, and a handle to apply a force coupled to the grip, wherein application of force to the handle moves the roller from i) a non-contact position, above the bottom surface of the debris receptacle, to ii) a contact position, configured to be one of below the bottom surface of the debris receptacle or ground level, and wherein once the force is released the biasing member returns the roller to the non-contact position.

A method of collecting dust and debris is also disclosed. The method include leveling a leading edge of a dustpan to a surface to be cleaned, the dustpan includes: a grip, a debris receptacle coupled to the grip, having a debris collection surface with a leading edge and a bottom surface, and a roller mechanism, wherein the roller mechanism includes a roller with an adhesive surface, a biasing member, and a handle to apply a force coupled to the grip, wherein application of force to the handle moves the roller from i) a non-contact position, above the bottom surface of the debris receptacle, to ii) a contact position, configured to be one of below the bottom surface of the debris receptacle or ground level, and wherein once the force is released the biasing member returns the roller to the non-contact position; using a debris displacement device, displace debris into the debris receptacle past the leading edge until debris is collected over the debris collection surface; without moving the dustpan, applying a force to the handle to cause the roller with an adhesive surface to move from the non-contact position to the contact position; with the leading edge lifted off the surface to be cleaned, moving the dustpan substantially parallel to the surface to be cleaned in a direction along an axis between the grip and the leading edge; collecting remaining debris from the surface to be cleaned by the roller with an adhesive surface; and releasing the force to the handle to cause the roller with an adhesive surface to move from the contact position to the non-contact position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is perspective view of a dustpan according to the present disclosure having a roller mechanism.

FIG. 2 is top view of the dustpan with the roller mechanism attached.

FIG. 3 is perspective view of the dustpan with a curved front edge.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the dustpan with the roller in the contact position.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the dustpan with the roller in the non-contact position.

FIG. 6 is cross-sectional view of a mechanism to hold a adhesive surface

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the roller mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the method to operate the dustpan.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of this disclosure is thereby intended.

In the present disclosure, the term “substantially” can allow for a degree of variability in a value or range, for example, within 90%, within 95%, or within 99% of a stated value or of a stated limit of a range.

As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4, a dustpan 100 according to the present disclosure is presented. The dustpan 100 has a grip 105. The grip 105 is connected to a debris receptacle 101 and a handle 104 to which a force can be applied. The handle 104 is part of a mechanism that includes a roller 102, a pivot arrangement 103. The pivot arrangement 103 includes a pin (not shown) and a receiving member (not shown) for the pin (not shown), and a biasing member 202 as seen in FIG. 7, where an embodiment of a dustpan 700, according to the present disclosure, is shown in a sideview. Whenever a user squeezes the handle 104, the biasing member 202 compresses and the pivot arrangement 103 allowing the bottom edge of the roller 102 to be positioned lower than the bottom of the pan or at a ground level position. The debris receptacle 101 has a leading edge 107 that is curved.

The roller 102 has an outer surface made of layers of sticky paper similar to lint rollers. When the handle 104 is pressed and the roller 102 is moved downward and makes contact with ground level, the user can move the dustpan forward to any debris left in front of the dustpan 100 and pick up the debris with the roller. When the surface of the roller 102 is covered with debris (or to a point when the sticky paper is no longer capable of picking additional debris), the top sticky paper can be removed exposing a new sticky paper underneath it. After consuming an entire roll, it can be replaced by a new roll.

FIG. 1 also shows a T-shaped arm arrangement 106 coupled to the handle and capable of moving up and down with the handle. The arm arrangement 106 is also coupled to the roller as will be described in reference to FIG. 6, below.

With reference to FIG. 5, a schematic representation of an embodiment of a partial dustpan 500 is shown including a debris receptacle 501 having a leading edge 502 which includes a curved edge. The same embodiment is also shown in FIG. 1, with the additional components therein. It should be appreciated that other leading edges are within the scope of the present disclosure. These leading edges can include one or more of a straight, triangular (or v-shaped), parabolic, hyperbolic, circular, or a combination thereof.

Referring to FIG. 6, the roller 102 (e.g., shown in FIG. 1) is secured to the arm arrangement 106 by an attachment arrangement 600 which includes a frame 603 around which the roller 102 (not shown in FIG. 6) is disposed, a pin 601 that can be depressed inward against a biasing member 602. A secondary pin (not shown) can be provided on the opposite end of the frame 603. By pressing the pin 601 (one or optionally two at the same time), the attachment mechanism 600 can be removed from the arm arrangement 106 in order to replace the roller 102 from the attachment mechanism 600 with a new roller. Once the roller 102 is replaced, the pin(s) 601 are once again pressed inward and the attachment mechanism 600 is placed against the arm arrangement 106 by placing the pin(s) 601 in corresponding receiving cavities (not shown). Upon releasing pin(s) 601, the attachment arrangement is then securely coupled to the arm arrangement 106.

The bulk of the dustpan can be manufactured from solid materials, such as plastic, metal, composites, ceramics, and other material known to a person having ordinary skill in the art, that can retain their shape under load. The curved leading edge can be manufactured from metal, ceramic, or plastic, that could be different from the rest of the debris receptacle 101.

The method 800 for removing the debris is outlined in a flow chart in FIG. 8. The user levels the leading edge with the ground as shown in block 801. The user then sweeps the dust and debris into the dustpan by a debris displacement device as shown in block 802. Due to floor surfaces being uneven, varying size debris are unable to be displaced into the receptacle, thereby leaving a trail of debris. The curved leading edge described in the present disclosure 107 is designed so that when a sweeping action is applied it will guide the remaining debris, unable to get over the lip of the dustpan, towards the center of the dustpan, leaving a smaller pile that is less than the width of the roller. This function thus reduces the amount of required effort from the operator of the dustpan to clean the floor.

In the next step 803, the user squeezes the handle 104, the biasing member 202 compresses, and the mechanism turns about the pivot arrangement 103 causing the bottom edge of the roller 102 to make contact with the ground at a point even with or lower than the surface of the bottom of the pan as seen in FIG. 3. With the roller in contact with the floor, the user can lift the leading edge off the floor and push the dustpan 100 forward over the remaining debris as shown in block 804, allowing it to collect on the sticky paper. As described in 805, the debris can then be disposed of. After releasing the force applied to the handle 104, the biasing member 202 returns the roller 102 and the handle 104 back to their respective starting positions as detailed in FIG. 4.

The roller 102 can be moved from a non-contact position to a contract position by applying a force to the handle 104 or by pressing a button (not shown) on the grip 105. By releasing the force from the button (not shown), the roller 102 returns to it non-contact position.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous modifications can be made to the specific implementations described above. The implementations should not be limited to the particular limitations described. Other implementations may be possible. 

1. A dustpan comprising, a grip, a debris receptacle coupled to the grip, having a debris collection surface and a bottom surface, and a roller mechanism, wherein the roller mechanism includes a roller with an adhesive surface, a biasing member, and a handle to apply a force coupled to the grip, wherein application of force to the handle moves the roller from i) a non-contact position, above the bottom surface of the debris receptacle, to ii) a contact position, configured to be one of below the bottom surface of the debris receptacle or ground level, and wherein once the force is released the biasing member returns the roller to the non-contact position.
 2. The dustpan of claim 1, wherein the handle includes a button, whereby pressing the button applies the force.
 3. The dustpan of claim 1, wherein the handle includes a surface, whereby pressing the surface applies the force.
 4. The dustpan of claim 1, the debris receptacle further comprises a shaped leading edge.
 5. The dustpan of claim 4, wherein the curved leading edge is one of parabolic, hyperbolic, or circular in nature,
 6. The dustpan of claim 4, wherein the shaped leading edge is v-shaped.
 7. A method of collecting dust and debris comprising; leveling a leading edge of a dustpan to a surface to be cleaned, the dustpan includes: a grip, a debris receptacle coupled to the grip, having a debris collection surface with a leading edge and a bottom surface, and a roller mechanism, wherein the roller mechanism includes a roller with an adhesive surface, a biasing member, and a handle to apply a force coupled to the grip, wherein application of force to the handle moves the roller from i) a non-contact position, above the bottom surface of the debris receptacle, to ii) a contact position, configured to be one of below the bottom surface of the debris receptacle or ground level, and wherein once the force is released the biasing member returns the roller to the non-contact position; using a debris displacement device, displace debris into the debris receptacle past the leading edge until debris is collected over the debris collection surface; without moving the dustpan, applying a force to the handle to cause the roller with an adhesive surface to move from the non-contact position to the contact position; with the leading edge lifted off the surface to be cleaned, moving the dustpan substantially parallel to the surface to be cleaned in a direction along an axis between the grip and the leading edge; collecting remaining debris from the surface to be cleaned by the roller with an adhesive surface; and releasing the force to the handle to cause the roller with an adhesive surface to move from the contact position to the non-contact position.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the handle includes a button, whereby pressing the button applies the force.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the handle includes a surface, whereby pressing the surface applies the force.
 10. The method of claim 7, the debris receptacle further comprises a shaped leading edge.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the shaped leading edge is one of parabolic, hyperbolic, or circular in nature,
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the shaped leading edge is v-shaped. 